Carton stacking mechanism



' Jan- 8, 1946- Y lH.-s. lI ABQMBARIBE Y 2,392,746k

CARTON STACKING MECHANISMn Filed Aug. 2, 1944 i Patented Jan. 8, i946 CARTON STACKING MECHANISM Harold S. Labombarde, Nashua, N. 1l., aslignor to The International Paper Box Machine Company, Nashua, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application August 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,729

l1 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for continuously stacking and condensing in an upright pile collapsed cartons as they are delivered in inclined overlapping series from a prior operation, such, for example, as an accumulatorstacker in which folded and moist glued cartons are carried in said overlapped relation by a traveling endless belt and subjected to pressureduring the setting of the glue.

Mechanism for progressively stacking a series of narrow overlapping cartons from horizontal to vertical position by successively tilting them as they are advanced is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,960,311 granted May 29, 1934.

Some types of collapsed cartons have projecting panels or flaps which together with the springiness of the overlapped collapsed cartons make it extremely difficult to accumulate in upright on-edge position as they tend to twist and lock so that periodically the attendant has to remove them from the stacker and regather them one by one by hand.

The construction disclosed in my prior patent is not adapted to stack cartons of this character in upright position and the present invention has for its object to overcome these difficulties in stacking and condensing such cartons and to insure the continuous stacking and condensing of these and other types of cartons in upright position.' This is accomplished in the present lnvention by providing an upright backstop located' at the delivery end of the conveyer for the overlapping cartons so positioned in proximity thereto as to cause the resultant ofthe force applied to the cartons as they are advanced by the conveyer and the resistance offered by the back stop gradually to erect the successive cartons to, and condense them in, substantially upright on-edge position. i

A further object of the invention is to provide means for exerting yielding pressure upon the upper surface of the advancing overlapped cartons adjacent the point where they are discharged from the conveyer, such as to insure uniform successive deliveryl of the cartons to the upright stacking mechanism.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a movable back stop and means for controlling the movement and position thereof as the cartons are stacked up thereagainst. n

A further object of the invention is to provide a top guide bar for the upper edges of the cartons as they are stacked up so that they will be jogged into properly stacked position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for rapidly stacking cartons in upright position and so condensingthem as to insure complete setting of the glue and which will enable a large number of cartons to be accumulated and condensed and from which they can be removed by the attendant in predetermined preferably counted batches adjacent the back stop, with means for automatically moving the back stop forwardly to retain the cartons remaining in the stacker in upright position during the progressive stacking of the cartons and without interruption of the operation of the machine.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully apperirom the following description and the accompanyingl drawing and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

.A preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. v1 is a top plan view of the apparatus; and,

Fig, 2 is a view, chiefly in vertical vsection and partially in side elevation, of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

The series of inclined overlapping moist glued and collapsed cartons to be stacked in accordance with the present invention is formed and continuously delivered by any suitable apparatus. An apparatus for such purpose is disclosed in my application Serial Number 455,434 filed August 20, 1942, for Stacker accumulators. This apparatus comprises a stacker accumulator in which a series c of folded and freshly 'glued cartons are carried by an endless conveyer in overlapped relation beneath compressor means which serves forcibly to hold down the glued portions during the dry-l ing and setting of the glue, the cartons being delivered from the conveyer to the mechanism for erecting the cartons to vertical stacked position by the mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawing comprises a suitable supporting frame of which is here illustrated only the longitudinally extending horizontal side bars I and 2 upon which the mechanism i`s mounted.

The moist glued collapsed cartons 3 are carried in rearwardly inclined overlapping position on a traveling endless conveyer shown as a belt or apron l. This conveyer at its delivery end sur'- rounds a roller I the shaft 8k of which is mounted in bearings 1 and 8 adjustable along the bars I and 2. The cartons which have been folded with freshly glued panels or aps are firmly pressed together in, and are maintained in, compressed relation nearly to their delivery end to the stack- 2 ing apparatus by the endless belt l pressing against them as in my aforesaid application. The speed of the belts 4 and 9 is regulated so that the overlapping of the cartons as delivered to them is less than the width of the naps, such as III, which might interlock.

'I'he lower edge portions of the overlapped cari tons are engaged by the endless conveyer 4 and are `discharged therefrom at the delivery end of the conveyer on a support for their lower edges as they are continuously advanced by the conveyer and are erected to upright position by a oooperating upright, preferably vertical, back stop,

as will hereinafter be described. Y

In the particular construction illustrated the rst part of the' support is ilxed and the latter part moves at a relatively slow speed. The iixed part of the support is shown as a platform Iland the movable portion as an endless traveling conl veyer I2. The conveyer I2, which is in the form of a belt, extends over the rollers I3 and I4, the

shafts I5 and I6 of which are mounted respectively inbearings I'I and I8, IQ--and 20, which are adjustable along the frame bars 2 and I. This second conveyer I 2 is driven by any suitable means tard the rearward movement of the back stop due to the pressure of the advancing stack of cartons.

When as preferred the stacked cartons are slowly advanced rearwardly by the second conveyer I2, the invention provides a ratchet means associated with the back stop and the conveyer which, while it acts to permit forward movement of the back stop so as to keep it in contact with the advancing end of the stack, also prevents rearward movement of the back stop with respect to the conveyer so that the back stop canv not advance faster than the conveyer.

at the required speed and ishere shown as driven by the shaft B of the conveyer 4 by means of a gear 2| on the shaft I engaging an intermediate pinion 22 which engages a gear 22 on the shaft Ii.

The xed portion I I of the support is undercut conveyers 4 and I2 where they pass around the rollers l and I3. 'I'his platform is mounted at.

its ends upon brackets 24 'which are adjustable along the frame bars I and 2 with the bearings oftherollshaftsand I5. l Y

A side guide plate 2l for the stack of cartons extends longitudinally above the conveyer I2 and is conveniently supported at its forward end upon a transverse shaft 26 carried by the brackets l at its front and rear edges so as to nt over the 24. s horizontally disposed top guide bar :l ls

mounted in position to engage and jog the upper f edges of the cartons as they are moved to vertical condensed position and to insure uniformity of the level of said upper ends of the'stacked cartons. 'I'he top guide bar 21 is provided midway of its length with a vertical stud 28 which is adjustably mounted in an arm 29 vhaving at its opposite end a cylindrical boss which is mounted upon and secured to the transverse shaft 26.

The back stop, which in cooperation `with the force appliedto the cartons by frictional engagev ment with the traveling conveyer I, erects the cartons progressively to upright position, may be so` positioned relatively to the delivery end of the conveyer I that the resultant force applied by the conveyer to the under edge portions of the overlapped cartons and the resistance of the back stop to the advancing movement of the cartons willgradually deect thecartons from horizontal to vertical position', it being understood that if necessary the irst carton of the series delivered from the conveyer may be raised manually soA that itA and the succeeding cartons will be successively forced rearwardly and upwardly and condensed into closely assembled upright position. Preferably, however, the back stop is mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly in the line of the travel of the cartons so that it may be positioned as required in accordance with the length of the stack of cartons.

As the cartons are progressively stacked in vertical position batches of predetermined n umber next adjacent the back stop, which may be count- `ed by usual mechanism, may be removed by the plate By reason of this construction the pressure of the advancing series of cartons not onlyl erects the cartons to upright position but also produces such compression of the upright cartons as to insure complete setting of the glue.

In the preferred construction illustrated the base for the-back stop comprises a ilat plate 30 which extends transversely directly over the conveyer I2 and passes through a longitudinal slot II in the side guide plate 2S. On the opposite face of the side guide plate the base is provided with an extension 22. Antifriction rollers 23. two engaging the outer face and one engaging the inner face of the side guide plate 25, are mounted on the base and serve to guide it in its forward and backward movement.

The back stop 34 is mounted for adjustment laterally on the base In properly to support cartons of different width. For this purpose the back stop is secured to a plate 35 which is mounted to slide laterally on a slotted plate 38 secured to and spaced from the base 30, and a set screw 21 in the plate 35 extends through the slot in the loosening and tightening the set. screw 31 the back vstop 34 may beadiusted to any desired lateral position. Y

The back stop 34 thus carried on the base 30 is yieldingly pressed forwardly by suitable means such as a counterweight 38 suspended on a cord 39 running over a pulley 4l and extending horizontally and connected to the base extension 22. The base 3| has secured to it a spring finger 4I which engages the conveyer I2 and acts like a ratchet to prevent rearward movement of the back stop relatively to the conveyer thereby to insure uniform compression of the stacked cartons.

In the present invention means are provided which act to press yieldingly upon the upperon an arm 43 which is pivotally mounted upon the transverse shaft 26 and pressed upon the upper surfaces of the overlapped cartons slightly in advance ofan'd in proximity to end of the conveyer 4.

In the operation of the apparatus thus described the overlapping cartons are progressively the delivery 3B with the head therebeneath. Thus by a horizontal traveling endless conveyer for` supdelivered Vfromthe discharge end of the conveyer 4 and arefheld down upon the delivery end thereof by theroller 42 with sumcient'force to insure the progressive forwarding of thecartons upon the support il. 'I'he back stop 34 is initially set at a distance from the delivery end of'the conveyer 4 sufilciently less than the length of the cartons to cause the cartons progressively to be deflected upwardly to upright position by the resultant of the longitudinal force applied by the conveyer 4 an'd the resistance of the back stop 34. During such upright stacking movement the iree end of each carton slides upwardly upon the upwardly inclined carton next beneath it and the pressure exerted upon the lower edges oi' the cartons forces them along the plate Il thereby gradually erecting them toward vertical position. Upon continued movement the lower edges of the cartons are forced into engagement with the slower traveling endless belt orfapron I2 and the continued pressure upon said lower edges gradually reduces the spacing between said lower edges to zero when the cartons yare erected to upright position.

As the operation continues the back stop is yieldingly forced rearwardly bythe stack formed.

as the cartons move to upright position. The top guide bar 21 acts to' engage the upper edges of the carton as they reach upright position and' Jogs any tilted carton into vertical position, thus positioning 'tre upper edges of all of the cartons at the same level.

The pressure upon the progressively stacked cartons serves to condense them in upright stacked position and as the back stop is forced' rearwardly to or toward the limit of its rearward movement a batch of cartons, the number of which is usually determined by a counting device, is removed by the operator and the back stop when thus relieved is automatically moved forwardly by the counterweight 38.

Inasmuch as the backi stop is held against the end of the advancing stack bythe counterweight and cannot be moved rearwardly faster than the conveyer, by reason. of the ratchet-like engagement of the spring finger 4 I, the cartons are compressed in upright position in such manner that uniform counted batches of the compressed cartons can be readily removed by the operator,

It will be understood that the particular mechanism shown and described herein is of an illustrative character and. that various changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by `erect the cartons to substantially upright on` edge position and then progressively condense them 1n said upright position.

2. Carton-stacking and condensing mechanism pressing a series of traveling moist glued collapsed cartons in overlapped position including porting the overlapping cartons, and means for progressively compressing them to insure proper adhesion and settingof the glue, an upright back cartons successively to erect them to upright position.

3. Carton-stacking and condensing mechanism comprising a traveling endless conveyer for sup-- porting a series of overlapping'moist glued collapsed cartons, a stationary stack support positioned at the discharge end of the conveyer to receive the lower edges of the cartons as the said lower edges are continuously advanced by the conveyer on to the support, a suitable roller pressing upon the upper surface of the advancing overlapped cartons above the discharging end ofV the conveyer acting to insure frictional engagementof the lower edges of the cartons with the conveyer, and an upright back stop in the path of the cartons movable in the direction of movement of the conveyer at a slower speed actin'g progressively to erect the advancing cartons to upright position and then to compress the erected cartons. l

4. Carton-stacking and condensing mechanism comprising a traveling endless conveyer for supp in the path of thecartons movable in the direccomprising means for accumulating and comtion of movement Aoi. the conveyer at a slower speed acting progressively to erect the advancing cartons to, and condense them in, substantially vupright position, and means for vadjustably mounting the back stop forwardly or backwardly in' the line of travel of the cartons, whereby the l back stop may be positioned as required by a selected length of the stack of upright cartons.

5. Carton-stacking and condensing mechanism comprising a traveling endless conveyer for supporting a series oi overlapping -moist glued collapsed cartons, a stationary stack support positioned at the discharge end of the conveyer. to receive the lower edges of the cartons as the said lower edges are continuously advanced by the conveyer on to the support. a movable upright back stop in the path of the cartons acting progressively to erect the advancing cartons to, and

condense them in, substantially upright position,

means for adjustably mounting the back stop forwardly or backwardly in the line of travel of the cartons, and means acting to retard rearward movement of the back stop, due to the pressure of the advancing stack of cartons, thus to maintain th cartons upright as the length of the stack increases and to condense the upright stacked cartons.

6. Carton-stacking and condensing mechanism comprising means vfor accumulating a traveling series of moist glued collapsed cartons in overlapped position, and means for progressively compressing them to insure proper adhesion and compressing meansacting progressively to erect 'the cartons to, and condense them in. substanlapsed cartons, a stack support positioned at the discharge end of the conveyer to receive the lower edges of the cartons as the said lower edges are continuously advanced by the conveyer `on to the support, an upright back stop in the path of the cartons movable by the pressure applied to the cartons by the conveyer acting progressively to erect the advancing cartons to, and condense them in, substantially upright position, means stack faster than the travel of the second conveyer. 8. Carton-stacking and condensing mechanism comprising a traveling endless conveyer for supporting a series of overlapping moist glued collapsed cartons, a stack support positioned at the discharge end of the conveyer to receive the 35 lower edges of. the cartons as the saidlower edges are continuouslyadvanced by the conveyer on to the support, a movable upright back stop in the path of the cartons actingin oppotinuously to 'compress 9. Carton-stacking mechanism comprising an Aendless traveling conveyer, for advancing at a retarded rate a continuously advancing stack of substantially vertically erected collapsed glued cartons. a back stop'for the rearward end of the stack formed of sections adjustable transversely of the conveyer to engage cartons of different width, means for mounting and guiding the back stop for movementi'orward and backward above the conveyer, means acting yieldingly to press the back stop against the advancing stack, and ratchet means associated with the back stop and the conveyer acting to permit forward movement and to prevent rearward movementoi.' the back stop with respect' to the conveyer, thereby contogether the upright cartons.

10. Carton-stacking, mechanism comprising an endless traveling conveyer for advancing at a retarded rate a continuously moving stack of substantially vertically erected collapsed glued cartons, a back stop for the rearward end of the stack, a stack side guidevplate above the conveyerhaving a longitudinal slot, a base for the back stop extending through the slot, the base and slot acting to guide thebackA stop forward and backward above the conveyer, a spring finger on the base engaging the conveyer and acting to prevent rearward vmovement of the back vstop relatively to the conveyer, and means acting yieldingly to press `the back stop forwardly against the stack and automatically to retain .the erected cartons in upright compressed position upon removal of cartons from the stack.

11. Carton-stacking mechanism comprising an endless traveling conveyer for advancing at a retarded rate a continuously advancing stack of substantially vertically erected collapsed glued cartons. a back stop for the rearward end of Sltlon t0 the pressure Produced by the conveyer 40 the stack, a stack side guide plate above the conveyer having a longitudinal slot, a base for the back stop extending through the slot, antifriction rolls mounted on the base at each side of and in engagement with the sides ofthe guide plate, the base and slot acting to guide the back i stop forward and backward above the conveyer, a spring finger on the base engaging the conveyer and acting to prevent rearward movement of the back -stop relatively to the conveyer, and means acting yieldingly to press the back stop forwardly against the stack and automatically to ciated with the back stop and the second conveyer acting to permit forward movement and to prevent rearward 4movement of the back stop with respect to the second conveyer.

retain the erected cartons in upright compressed position upon lremoval of cartons from the stack.

HAROLD s. LABOMBARDE. 

